NOT A SUPERMAN
BUT ANYMAN

On the sets of ag films 'Raftaar'
Acrowded bazaar street is the location of Priyadarshan’s new film, Raftaar being made for producer AG Nadiadwala. Priyan, who’s every actor’s favourite director after Virasat, is sitting with Saboo Cyril, the art director he has been teaming up with since the Muskurahat days. Raftaar, the director reveals, is a very different film from the ones being made today and even from the ones he’s made before. It’s a light entertainer, a subject which Priyan has had on his mind for a while now. It’s not a remake of any South film as has been the case with most of Priyan’s Hindi films, be it the critically acclaimed Saza-e-Kala Pani or the commercially successful Virasat. “It is a totally new project,” asserts the man of few words. Busy with other projects till now, Priyan had been forced to push the idea to the back of his mind. Then recently, he met Firoze Nadiadwala and discussed the idea with him. Firoze loved it and Raftaar was born.

Akshay Kumar and Sunil Shetty who are playing the male leads, have never been cast together in a fun film earlier. Waqt Hamara Hai and Mohra were action-oriented films. “But I felt Akshay and Sunil would do well in a light film. They are representative of the common man and my film is of the people, by the people and for the people to take a line from our constitution. However, it doesn’t deal with bitter truths and harsh realities. You don’t have to tax your mind when watching this film. You can sit back and enjoy it,” Priyan promises.

His mobile phone buzzes and excusing himself he walks towards the make-up room, talking loudly in Malayalam. We turn to Saboo and wonder aloud how he decides what his sets look like. “Well, I don’t usually make any sketches but I have long discussions with the director and design my sets according to his requirements. Priyan and I have worked together in over 12 films, so by now I’m in tune with him,” he smiles.

While we’re chatting there’s a lot of activity going on in the market square. Horse carts go clippity clopping all over the bazaar. Bags of grain spill out across the stalls and beyond. People are bustling around. It’s another busy market day.

The camera has been set up. The lights are in place. The recorder is whirring. It’s time for action. Sunil Shetty, sporting a new bespectacled look and looking very unlike a desi Schwarzenegger, steps into the ‘field’ with an uncertain expression. He’s new to the town and has come here hoping that the post his father held earlier will be his. Also vying for the same post is Tabu, whose father was also an employee in the firm. There’s just one position and two needy people. Interestingly, when Sunil realises that Tabu needs the job more than him, he decides to pass up the opportunity not knowing that the same thought has also struck her and she has also decided to make the noble sacrifice. A predictable but still workable twist in the tale which will invariably sow the seeds for a budding romance.

However, we’re racing ahead too fast. To return to the situation on hand, Sunil has just landed in town and in the bustling bazaar runs into Akshay Kumar. It's a hilarious encounter followed by another meeting at Paresh Rawal’s house where Sunil will be staying as a PG. Akshay’s also living there and working in Paresh’s garage.

Both Akshay and Sunil play not supermen, but the role of everyman. A man you could bump into on the road any day. “Both the actors are playing the kinds of characters Amol Palekar and Farouque Shaikh played in the breezy entertainers of the ’70s,” explains Priyan.

Priyan confesses that he’s an ardent fan of Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Raftaar is modelled along the lines of Hrishida’s films. But, you’re warned, it’s not all fun and games. With two He-men there have to be some thrills and chills too. “There’ll be some action but even the fights will be laced with humour,” Priyan asserts. The film is written by Neeraj Vora who has also written the story for Priyan’s under-production film, Doli Sajaa Ke Rakhna starring Akshaye Khanna.

It’s time for the next shot. Priyan discusses the lights and camera angles with his technicians. One of the reflectors is awry and the assistant cameraman pulls up one of the spot boys in rapid-fire Malayalam. The unit has a lot of Malayalees and everyone’s talking in the language. Even the other heroine, Shweta Menon, is a Mallu. The lights have been set up to everyone’s satisfaction and everyone concentrates on the scene being shot. Sunil once again steps into the field, the glasses in place, a day’s stubble darkening his chin and a bag dangling from his shoulder. He walks around with a dazed expression, an address in his hand. Akshay walks in and heads straight for Sunil. A collision is inevitable. It’s a simple scene but requires umpteen takes. It takes a while to satisfy Priyan. Producer Firoze Nadiadwala who’s on the scene is blissfully unconcerned, confident that Priyan will do a good job on the film. He’s busy with his mobile phone and guest Shakti Kapoor who has dropped in to say “hello!”. Once the shot is okayed, Sunil walks up to ‘Shaks’ and soon the two are chatting animatedly in Hindi and English. Akshay sits apart and uninterestedly browses through a film magazine, waiting to be called for the next shot. Work sure is going on at a good raftaar on Priyan’s sets... that’s our last thought as we walk away.